View of Paris with Notre-Dame and the Pantheon 1886

Vincent van Gogh made this drawing of Paris with Notre-Dame and the Panthéon using pencil, pen and brown ink. The drawing provides a glimpse into the social and cultural landscape of late 19th-century Paris. At the time, Paris was a rapidly changing city, undergoing significant urban renewal and industrialization. The Panthéon, originally built as a church but later secularized, and Notre-Dame Cathedral loom prominently on the horizon, these are symbols of both religious tradition and revolutionary change. The image creates meaning through its muted tones and sketchy lines, perhaps reflecting a sense of the city's gritty reality, and Van Gogh's personal experience of being an outsider. In order to better understand the institutional history of this artwork, we might consider the role of art academies and the Salon system in shaping artistic production. The interpretation of art is deeply intertwined with social and institutional contexts. By consulting historical archives and considering the socio-political climate of the time, we can gain a richer understanding of this drawing.